Rosie Batty remembers son Luke five years after horrific murder

Rosie Batty can scarcely believe it’s been five years to the day since her little boy Luke’s senseless death at the hands of his father. But on his anniversary, she will gather with her murdered son’s friends to keep his memory alive.

Rosie Batty will gather with her murdered son’s friends at 6.30pm on Tuesday to remember her little boy five years after his senseless death at the hands of his father.

The murder of Luke Batty at Tyabb Cricket Club on ­February 12, 2014, by his dad Greg Anderson, shocked ­Australia.

In the years since, his mother has spearheaded a drive to combat family violence.

She told the Herald Sun that, in many ways, it seemed like a lifetime ago her beloved son was taken from her.

ROSIE BATTY STEPS DOWN FROM FOUNDATION

STUNNING NEW PORTRAIT OF ROSIE BATTY UNVEILED

LUKE LEAVES A BRAVE LEGACY

“The five years seems to have gone quickly but seems to have been a lifetime ago as well,” she said.

“You can’t believe five years has already passed but it seems a long time ago and a different life that I had him.”

Ms Batty and Luke’s friends will come together tonight at a memorial garden built next to the cricket nets where the youngster lost his life

“At 6.30pm I’m going down to Luke’s memorial garden to meet up with the group of friends, who were his friends at school,” Ms Batty said.

Luke Batty died five years ago.

“They usually meet down there on the anniversary of his death each year. As it is the fifth anniversary I have extended it to other people who knew Luke or know me to come down.

“It is just a coming together and sharing some memories and some meaningful words.”

Ms Batty said watching Luke’s friends grow older knowing her son’s life was so cruelly taken from him could be difficult at times.

“His friends are now 16 turning 17 and their understanding and appreciation compared to what they knew of family violence at 11 years old and to what they know of what happened to Luke continues to deepen as they mature,” Ms Batty said.

Luke was killed in the cricket nets at Tyabb by his father just before 6.30pm five years ago today.

Rosie Batty will mark the five-year anniversary of her son Luke’s death. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Anderson was shot by police about 25 minutes later when he lunged with a knife at an officer.

He was flown to The Alfred hospital and pronounced dead at 1.25am after emergency surgery failed to save him.

Ms Batty, who was named Australian of the Year in 2015, has worked tirelessly in the past five years to shine a light on family violence.

“The degree of change and reform which is happening here in Victoria is amazing,” she said. “It is not easy implementing all of the changes. We all look for a miracle to occur and don’t always understand how long change takes.”

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